Monday 29 October 2012

Sydney Sixers T20 Champions


Michael Lumb's unbeaten 82 from 42 balls led Sydney Sixers to a 10-wicket victory in the final of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament against the Highveld Lions in Johannesburg.

The current Australian Big Bash title-holders dominated with bat and ball as they chased down their opponents' 121 run target with over seven overs to spare.

After winning the toss and electing to field, Sydney skipper Brad Haddin saw his side take four wickets in the opening four overs.

Gulam Bodi, Quinton de Kock, Neil McKenzie and captain Alviro Petersen could only score eight runs between them with Nathan McCullum, Steve O'Keefe and Josh Hazlewood with two, all striking early.

A half-century from Jean Symes gave the South African side some hope and he was given decent support from Thami Tsolekile (20) and Dwaine Pretorius (21).

But when Symes (51) became Hazlewood's third victim with the score at 112 for eight, any hopes of the Lions making a competitive total were lost.

Player of the tournament Mitchell Starc took the ninth wicket of Aaron Phangiso (three) before Chris Morris was run out on the final ball of the innings, as the Lions, playing on their home ground of the Wanderers, limped to 121.

Lumb and Haddin soon set about taking Sydney to their target. Haddin (37) scored at more than a run a ball but it was Lumb, who also won the Golden Bat award for the highest run scorer of the tournament, who took centre stage.

The England international cracked 13 boundaries, including five sixes, as the Lions' bowling attack had no response to either batsman with Phangiso (two for 29) and Morris (two for 25) proving particularly costly.

The final over was a microcosm of the match as Lumb smashed two maximums and a four off the unwitting Pretorius to secure the title in style.


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